01

A Lost Companion
By Ciara Carroll

I can’t get by without them:

I don’t even know where to look.
I can’t watch my favourite movie
I can’t read my favourite book.

I can’t enjoy the garden.

I can only smell the flowers.
I won’t bother to hunt for insects.
It would take me hours and hours!

Most kids in my class don’t need them

But my dad and my teacher do.
My sister uses them for work
And my Grandpa needs them too.

They’re no use when I’m sleeping

But, in the morning, things look funny.
When it’s warm outside, they get steamy
And I change them when it’s sunny.

I’ve found them! Here, under my bed,

My lost companion returned.
My surroundings take shape when I put them on
And I’m no longer quite as concerned.

Finally, things become clearer.

I’m squinting and frowning no more.
Just like two shiny new eyeballs,
I can view the world better than before.

So, what is this special invention

That has given me endless support?
Is it two shiny new eyeballs?
No, no…
It’s my glasses, of course!

This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.

To find out more visit www.century.tech
 Questions 02

1 Who or what is the ‘lost the poet’s family member

companion’? (tick)
the poet’s friend
the poet’s glasses
the poet’s eyes

2 How many stanzas are there in

this poem?

3 Which lines in each stanza lines 1 and 3

rhyme? (tick)
lines 2 and 4
lines 1 and 2
lines 3 and 4

4 The poet was thinking about And I can’t play my favourite video game
adding a new stanza to this
poem. Which line could they use And I can’t do my homework
to rhyme with the line below?
And I can’t find my keys
I can’t paint as well as I would like And I can’t ride my brand new bike
(tick)

10 In which stanza does the poet 1

find their lost companion? (tick)
2
3
4
5
6
7

This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.

To find out more visit www.century.tech

6 In which stanza does it become
clear that the lost companion is
not a person? (tick)
7 Why can the poet only smell the
flowers? (tick)
8 Who does NOT need glasses?
(tick)
9 What does the line ‘My
surroundings take shape’ mean?
(tick)
10 Match the stanza with the correct
summary of its lines.
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
03
Stanza 1
Stanza 2
Stanza 3
Stanza 4
She is wearing a blindfold.
She is too sad to look at the flowers.
She can’t see them clearly.
She only wants to smell the flowers.
most kids in the poet’s class
the poet’s teacher
the poet’s dad
the poet’s sister
the poet’s grandpa
The poet can see shapes around her.
The poet can see what is around her.
The poet’s surroundings start to move.
The poet can see shapes she’s never
seen before.
The narrator tells us that some people
need this item though most people don’t.
The narrator finds the object they have
lost.
The narrator reveals to the reader that the
item they had lost was their glasses.
The narrator has lost something and they
describe things they can’t do without it.
Score:
 Answers A

1 Who or what is the ‘lost

companion’?
✓ the poet’s glasses

2 How many stanzas are there in

this poem? seven

3 Which lines in each stanza

rhyme?
✓ lines 2 and 4

4 The poet was thinking about

adding a new stanza to this
✓ And I can’t ride my brand new bike
poem. Which line could they use
to rhyme with the line below?

I can’t paint as well as I would like

5 In which stanza does the poet

find their lost companion?
✓ 5

6 In which stanza does it become

clear that the lost companion is
✓ Stanza 3
not a person?

7 Why can the poet only smell the

flowers?
✓ She can’t see them clearly.

8 Who does NOT need glasses? ✓ most kids in the poet’s class

9 What does the line ‘My

surroundings take shape’ mean?
✓ The poet can see what is around her.

10 Match the stanza with the correct
summary of its lines.
3 The narrator tells us that some people
need this item though most people don’t.
5 The narrator finds the object they have
lost.
7 The narrator reveals to the reader that
the item they had lost was their glasses.
1 The narrator has lost something and they
describe things they can’t do without it.

This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.

To find out more visit www.century.tech